Emblem of the 3d Space Operations Squadron of the United States Air Force

Significance: Blue and yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The globe in a black field represents the unit’s function in global satellite operations. The three four-pointed stars in a concentric orbit around the globe reflect the Clarke principle of worldwide satellite coverage. The larger star in chief stands for the sun, the center of the solar system and the source of power for the satellites. The small star in base denotes the moon used by satellite operators as a point of reference for attitude control. The lightning bolts portray communication between the squadron and the satellite payloads.